Latest Area News Headlines

WORTHINGTON - U.S. Senate candidate Chris Dahlberg stopped in Worthington Wednesday evening with his mobile front porch to campaign. A two-term St. Louis County Commissioner and Iraq war veteran from Duluth, Dahlberg is vying for the Republican endorsement at the party’s May 30 convention in Rochester. He faces five other Republicans in the race.

The winner of the Republican primary will go on to face incumbent DFLer Al Franken in November.

WORTHINGTON – A Worthington man is in custody after allegedly robbing a victim at gunpoint in the early morning hours Sunday. According to the criminal complaint, Jose Manolo Arevalo Cortez, 32, faces charges of first- and second-degree aggravated robbery.

The complaint states Cortez asked the victim for a ride home from the Long Branch Saloon. The victim told police that he had talked to the man earlier in the evening, so he offered him the ride. When the man got in the van, the victim said the man put a gun in his side and told him to give him everything he had. The victim gave...

LUVERNE -- Just a week away from Memorial Day, Blue Mounds State Park has some bad news. There's E. coli bacteria in the water at Blue Mounds State Park, just north of Luverne.

Here is a posting from their website:

On May 12, 2014, the water system serving the office and main campground (excluding the picnic grounds, group camp and cart-in/tipi sites) tested positive for E. coli bacteria and is not safe for consumption. The water is safe for showering, but the Minnesota Department of Health recommends that infants and small children do not use the water for bathing if they...

SIOUX FALLS, SD -- Police say a drunk driver may be to blame for hitting a semi-truck and damaging a traffic signal in Sioux Falls, overnight.

Just after 1:00 a.m. Police say the driver of a BMW ran a flashing red light at Cliff Avenue and Benson Road. They also say the driver slammed into the passenger side of a semi-truck. The driver of the BMW was hurt but not critically and was arrested for DWI. Two other people were passengers in that car. One of the passengers received medical treatment, the other refused it.

MINNESOTA STATE NEWS -- Today, the Minnesota House passed a bonding bill that includes $846 million in bonds and an additional bill that includes $200 million in further investments in infrastructure projects. In the House bill, money has been set aside to help finance the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System that will provide desperately needed water to several communities in southwestern Minnesota.

The spending deal would pay Lewis and Clark $22 million in cash and allow local officials to sell bonds to fund the remaining $45 million of project costs. Local governments would...

WORTHINGTON -- Detective Sgt. Kevin Flynn has been appointed interim director of public safety for the Worthington Police Department. The department’s current chief, Mike Cumiskey announced his retirement Monday. On Tuesday, the civil services commission gave the go-ahead for City Administrator Craig Clark to appoint Flynn to the interim position. Flynn, who has been with the Worthington Police Department for 23 years, will begin his new duties at 5:00pm on Friday.

Flynn began as a patrol officer for the department in 1991. He was then promoted to detective in March 1996 and...

JACKSON -- A fire erupted early Sunday morning at the AGCO manufacturing plant in Jackson, damaging some paint equipment but resulting in no injuries.

Eric Fisher, director of operations at AGCO Jackson, said the plant’s fire suppression systems performed just as designed and contained the damage to the origin of the fire. He also credited AGCO employees and local emergency responders for their swift response.

JACKSON -- After more than a month with no permanent staff, the Jackson County Extension office welcomes three new employees in May.

WORTHINGTON – Worthington Police Chief Mike Cumiskey will retire at the end of May, he officially announced Monday. He began to let staff know Thursday and Friday of last week, and got all paperwork filed by the end of the week.

Cumiskey has been in law enforcement for 28 years, with almost 15 of those years in the city of Worthington.

His title isn’t actually police chief. Technically, he is Worthington’s Director of Public Safety. But in the hallways of the Prairie Justice Center, he is Chief Cumiskey, or more often, especially to the men and women of the Worthington Police...

WORTHINGTON – Worthington Police Chief Mike Cumiskey will retire at the end of May, he officially announced today. He began to let staff know Thursday and Friday of last week, and got all paperwork filed by the end of the week.

“After much soul searching and a lot of talk and prayer, I will retire from law enforcement,” he said this morning. “I’ve spent 28 years in law enforcement.”

On the hutch behind his desk are the hats he has collected for years and he admitted he has no idea what he’ll do with them. Or most of the things in his office, for that matter.

WORTHINGTON – This Thursday, the Center For Active Living will celebrate its first year of existence with an open house and plenty of activities. Located at 211 11th St., a program with comments by Worthington Mayor Alan Oberloh will kick off the open house at 1 p.m., followed by recognition of retiring advisory committee members Sharon Johansen, Bobbie Korthals, Chuck Moore, Mike Woll and Bob Petrich.

Amanda Walljasper-Tate, owner of Schafer’s Health, will present a program at 2 p.m. on “Health Naturally” as part of the CAL’s Sanford Wellness Partners program.